Stone-catcher for beet-flumes.



Patented Mar. I9, I90l.

No. 670,0l5.

v E. ammala.` STONE CATCHER FOR BEET FLUMES.

(A pumion me@ occ, 24, 1900.;

V(llo Mod'el.)

surface.

ATENT rrIcE.

EDWARD F. DYER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO E. H. DYER dr COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

STONE-CATCHER FOR BEET-FLUM ES.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,015, dated March 19, 1901.

Application filed October 24, 1900. Serial No. 34,132. (No model.)

-To .ft/,Z whom, it may con/cern:

ile it known that I, EDWARD F. DYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Stone- Catchers for Beet- Flu mes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lumes or waterchannels, and is especially adapted for use in the iiumes employed in beet-sugar works for conveying beets from the storage-bins to the factory. Its object is to provide simple and effective means for separating rocks and particles of mineral substances from the beets, which are carried along by the current of water in a flume. l

In a beet-su gar factory it is imperative that all stones and earthy matter be separated from the beets before they enter the slicingmachines. Otherwise the expensive knives in said machines would be dulled or ruined, which would also necessitate a very inconvenient stoppage of the supply of beets to the factory while the cutters were being replaced.

To these ends my invention consists in a self-contained apparatus which may be set in a iiume and thereafter requires no attention except to occasionally Hush. out the stones, the separation being accomplished through gravitation and the current of water acting in conjunction with the device.

An embodiment of my invention as applied to the usual style of beet-flume is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fignre lis a plan view. Fig. II is a side elevation with the flume and middle division shown in section on the center line and the upper division broken away in part to show the inside surface thereof, With the grate removed. Fig. III is a cross-section of the lower division of the device.

The reference-letter ot indicates a fiume which is supplied with a current of water running in the direction indicated by the arrow to carry beets along. It may be constructed of brick, concrete, Wood, or other material, but should have a smooth inside A number of shells b, c, and d, as many as may be desired, preferably of cast- Yobstructed part thereof.

iron, open at their tops, their inner sides made to register with the contour of the sides of the flume, but extending below the bottom of the flume, forming a compartment e, are set in line with the flume, forming an un- Said shells are flanged and bolted together, as showr, and are provided with tie-bars f and offsets at their tops to receive coverplanks. Each shell has two internal ribs g, one on each side, for supporting grates. Said grates consist of side fianges to rest upon and be held in place by the ribs g, between which is a bridge-bar h, with its upper surface formed to the contour of and placed in line with the bottom of the fiume and havingits upstream edge Hush with the upstream face of the shell-casting. Carried by the bar 7L are a number of prongs projecting downstream, having their upper faces Hush with said bar at their roots and inclined upward, so that their points are somewhat elevated above the line of the bottom of the flume. These prongs are tapered toward their points and are shorter than the shell-sections, as shown, thus leaving the opening j between their points and the next bridge-bar or the downstream part of the flume, as the case may be.

The specific gravity of sugar-beets is about the same as water. Therefore as beets are carried along by the current of water the upward inclination of the prongs t' tends to throw the heavier beets toward the surface of the stream, and consequently they are carried over the openingsj,wl1ile stones and mineral substances, on account of their greater specific gravity, fall through said openings or between the prongs finto the compartment e. The spaces between the prongs are too narrow for beets to pass through, and their tapered form prevents anything lodging between them. The upward inclination of the prongs also serves to agitate the mass of beets, and therebyassists in separating mineral particles therefrom.

The lower compartment c is provided with a door in one side of the shell-section CZ, having a suitable cover-plate 7c, fitted against a gasket to prevent leakage. A weight l, adj ustably secured to the horizontal arm of an elbow-lever m, fulcrumed to the shell at n,

XOO

and having its vertical arm bearing against the center of the door-plate,serves to keep the latter in place. The plate 7c has a strap o, ftted loosely around the end of the elbow-lever,

I; so that the weight Z being raised the plate 7c is drawn away from its seat and may be removed, permittinga clear opening through which the stones may be raked or flushed out of the compartment e.

1o It is evident that the shape of the shells may be altered to conform to the contour of any flume in which it may be desired to place .the device, and a greater or less number of shell-sections may be employed, or said sections may be made in one casting without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Modifications may be made in the details of the device provided the principles of construction set forth in the following claims are zo employed. 4

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my inventionj 1. A stonecatcher of the class described, comprising the combination of a flume and means for flowing water therethrough, a series of shells set therein conforming in contour to the sides of the flume and having a c0mpartment located below the bottom line thereof, and grates consisting of bridge-bars across 3o said compartment held respectively'in said shells with their upper faces even with and conforming to the shape of the bottom of the flume, and provided with prongs projecting downstream, inclined upward and made shorter than the shells so as to leave an open space adjacent to their points, substantially as set forth.

2. In a stone-catcher for flumes, the combination with a fiume, means for flowing Wa- 4o ter therethrough and a shell set therein conforming in contour to the sides of the flume and having a chamber located below the botcrosswise over said chamber having their upper faces in line with and conforming to the shape of the bottom of the fiume, tapered prongs projecting downstream and upwardly from said bars of such length that a clear opening into said chamber is formed across the iiu me adjacent to their downstream ends, a Water-tight door in the side of said chamber, and suitable means for keeping said door in place, substantially as set forth.

3. In a stone-catcher for flumes, the com bination with a flume, means for producing a current of water therein and a shell set therein and conforming in contour to the sides of the flume having a compartment located below the bottom line thereof, of a bridge-bar across said compartment held in said shell with its upper face even with and conforming to the shape of the bottom of the flume, and tapered prongs shorter than the shell carried by said bar, projecting downstream and inclined upward, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a fiume, means for producing a current of water therein, a suitable section conforming in contour to the sides of the flume and having a chamber formed therein below the bottom line of said flume, and means for removing stones from said chamber, of a bridge-bar secured over said chamber having its upper face even with and conforming to the shape of the bottom of the fiume, and having prongs projecting downstream with an upward inclination and of such length that a clear opening into the said chamber is formed adjacent to their downstream ends, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, at Cleveland, Ohio, October 22, 1900.

EDWARD F. DYER. 

